Wireless Transceivers

This research topic is situated in the physical layer of wireless networks, where we focus on the design of TRx circuits and the demonstration of new system concepts. Recent research on TRx circuits focused for example on the RF front-end circuits (LNAs, PAs, mixers, active filters …) for a broadband RF positioning system, mmWave PA design and low-power mixed-signal phase-locked loop (PLL) and CDR design. New system-level concepts are investigated with custom board-level TRx front-end designs combined with software defined radio (SDR) platforms and custom broadband FPGA-based digital baseband designs. The main applications of recent and ongoing research are radio-over-fiber solutions, and beyond 5G applications with the aim of realizing 100Gbps/m² throughput in crowded areas.

Staff

Guy Torfs, Xin Yin, Johan Bauwelinck

Researchers

Laurens Breyne, Haolin Li, Joris Van Kerrebrouck, Michael Verplaetse

Projects

• EU H2020 Flex5Gware

Key publications

• R. Pierco, G. Torfs, T. De Keulenaer, B. Vandecasteele, J. Missine, and J. Bauwelinck, "A Ka-band SiGe BiCMOS power amplifier with 24 dBm output power", Microwave and Optical Technology Letters, vol. 57, no. 3, March 2015, pp. 718-722.
• Z. Li, G. Torfs, J. Bauwelinck, X. Yin, J. Vandewege, C. Van Praet, P. Spiessens, H. Tubbax, and F. Stubbe, "A 2.45GHz +20dBm fast switching class-E power amplifier with 43% PAE and a 18dB wide power range in 0.18µm CMOS", IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems II - Express Briefs, vol. 59, no. 4, April, 2012, pp. 224-228.
• K. Verheyen, G. Torfs, and J. Bauwelinck, "Digital PLL-based frequency synthesis: effect of loop filter shape on required DCO frequency resolution", IET Electronics Letters, vol. 50, no. 20, September 25, 2014, pp. 1425-1427.
• M. Verbeke, P. Rombouts, A. Vyncke, and G. Torfs, "Influence of jitter on limit cycles in bang-bang clock and data recovery circuits", IEEE Transactions on Circuits and Systems I - Regular Papers.
• G. Torfs, Z. Li, J. Bauwelinck, X. Yin, G. Van der Plas, and J.Vandewege, "Low-power 4-bit flash analogue to digital converter for ranging applications", IET Electronics Letters, vol. 47, no. 1, January 6, 2011, pp. 20-22.